The state legislature has primary responsibility for enacting redistricting maps in Virginia, but not drawing them. On November 3, 2020, Virginia voters approved an amendment to the state constitution, which will create the first Virginia Redistricting Commission. The amendment shifts the responsibility of drawing districts from the General Assembly and the Governor to a 16-member bipartisan commission. Half of the commissioners are members of the General Assembly, and half are residents of the state. The commission is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative maps and submitting them to the General Assembly for approval. If the commissioners are unable to agree on the maps by a certain date, or if the General Assembly does not approve the submitted maps by a certain date, the commission is allotted additional time to draw new districts, but if maps are not then submitted or approved, the Supreme Court of Virginia becomes responsible for drawing these districts.

The state constitution requires the Virginia legislature to approve congressional and state legislative lines in 2021. The Virginia Redistricting Commission must agree on and present a state legislative district (Senate and House) map to the legislature within 45 days of receiving census data or by July 1st, whichever is later. A congressional map/plan must be approved by the commission within 60 days of receiving the data, or by the later of that date and July 1st.

Commission Failure to Adopt Maps: If the Commission fails to submit a district plan by the deadlines indicated above, it will have fourteen days following its initial failure to submit a plan to the legislature. If the Commission fails to submit a plan by this deadline, the Supreme Court of Virginia shall establish the districts.

Legislative Approval of Maps: The legislature must vote on a redistricting map sent to it by the commission within fifteen days of receipt. The map/plan may not be amended. If the legislature fails to adopt the map by the deadline, the Commission must submit a new map within fourteen days. The legislature has seven days to adopt the alternative commission map(s). If it fails to do so, the Supreme Court of Virginia will finalize the map.

Supermajority Requirement: The Commission must approve a map for submission to the legislature by at least six of the eight legislative members and six of the eight citizen members. The Senate and House maps must be approved by: at least six of the eight legislative members, including at least three of the four legislative members who are members of the Senate (for the Senate map) or the House (for the House map), and at least six of the eight citizen members.

2020 Population: 8,001,024    Congress: 11    State Senate: 40    State House: 100

source: NCSL.org

The VA Redistricting Commission        -  VA Legislature Redistricting Page